Why play one sport when you can play two at the same time ?

That was the question a number of like-minded individuals were asking themselves , circa 2006 .

And it is thanks to the vision of these select few that the sport of FootGolf -- a game , unsurprisingly , combining elements of football and golf -- was born and has been spreading its way around the globe ever since .

One of those men was Mike O'Connor , who today combines the roles of president of the Federation for International FootGolf -LRB- FIFG -RRB- and president of UK FootGolf .

`` I just knew FootGolf would be a bit of a no-brainer for the amount of golf courses there are , as well as the number of golfers and footballers , '' O'Connor told CNN of a game that involves players kicking a football around a golf course , complete with bigger holes .

`` I always thought it would take off . So it was just a question of waiting for the right time to get involved with it all really . ''

After years in production , O'Connor would bring the sport to the UK -- where there are now over 10,000 active players -- and set up UK FootGolf in 2012 .

Yet it is a Dutchman called Michael Jansen who is credited with the title of founding father of the game .

`` He created what we do today , '' O'Connor said . `` He created everything , from how the game is played , down to the look of the players . Everything . ''

Kicking around a new idea

Jansen , now an FIFG ambassador , held the first FootGolf competition in the Netherlands in 2008 , after hearing of a unique idea from friend and former professional footballer Willem Korsten .

Korsten had played an early interpretation of the game during his days at Tottenham Hotspur , when he and his teammates would attempt to kick a football from the training pitch back to the changing rooms in as little time as possible .

The mere invention of FootGolf seems to be a natural progression , given that football and golf have long shared a close relationship .

Footballers are well known for playing golf in their spare time , so perhaps it is no surprise that FootGolf has proved such a hit with those hailing from a footballing background -- 70 % of people who have taken up the sport have been footballers .

While there is obviously the relaxing aspect of walking around a golf course on a sunny day , former English Premier League player Bryan Hughes also feels that the sport represents another opportunity for footballers to flex their competitive muscles .

`` There is that challenge when playing golf . As sportsmen , we 've all got that in our lockers . We want to challenge each other , we want to challenge ourselves and obviously be the best . That 's why footballers turn to golf , '' he told CNN .

`` It can be a challenge if you want , but I think it 's good that you can actually have it as a casual game as well . Some footballers play golf but do it as a hobby , to relax and wind down , and escape from the pressures of a football match on a Saturday . ''

But while golf is in good health when it comes to attracting footballers , the sport has lost players in recent years -- According to a report in The New York Times , a recent survey by the U.S. National Golf Foundation estimated the game has lost five million in the last decade , with 20 % of the existing 25 million golfers likely to quit in the next few years .

Many feel the game takes too long to play , is too difficult to learn and has too many complicated rules , which has led to a number of new alternatives being introduced to help boost a sport in decline .

Such concerns have led to the introduction on golf courses of 15 inch-wide holes -- about four times the width of a standard hole -- a relaxation in the game 's rules , and of course , FootGolf .

Gaining a worldwide foothold

Since Jansen 's inaugural competition -- open to a mix of Dutch and Belgian professional footballers -- the sport has gone from strength to strength .

Three countries formed the FIFG in June 2012 for the first ever World Cup in Budapest , Hungary , while today the world governing body boasts 22 different member nations , ranging from South Africa to Argentina .

`` A lot of people are getting involved and loving the sport . It 's definitely the fun element that attracts people to it , '' O'Connor said . `` It catches such a large demographic because it 's such a low skill level to be able to play . You 've just got to be able to kick a ball . ''

And it is the sport 's ability to appeal to all that means a FootGolf course somewhere has likely played host to either a family visit , a first date , a corporate business trip or even , as was the case in the UK , an 81-year-old grandmother 's day out with her grandson .

But while there is little doubting the game 's capacity to attract members from most walks of life , O'Connor feels luring newcomers at a young age is truly pivotal to FootGolf 's future and its capability to grow as a sport .

`` When I first set up FootGolf I knew a lot of people would want to play the sport , and I knew I would n't be alone in liking the idea of playing football on a golf course , '' he said . `` But I was always conscious of the next level .

`` I knew it would take off with adults , but we started looking at how the sport could continue to grow and grow . And if you get the youngsters involved you 're going to still be going in 10 , 20 , 30 years ' time , and you 'll be continuing to build , develop and progress . ''

Much to O'Connor 's surprise , since its introduction , the sport seems to have struck a particular chord with junior football coaches .

There has been an overwhelming response from these coaches , who have contacted UK FootGolf to explain that the game is the perfect way to help youngsters focus on their passing and shooting .

So much so , that the governing body has taken the steps to set up its very own UK FootGolf Academy Scheme , due to start for business in May , and headed up by Hughes , who previously played for Birmingham City , Charlton Athletic and Hull City and is now a player-assistant manager at Scarborough Athletic .

The scheme is currently being worked on with UK-based 1st4sport -- who develop training qualifications for the likes of the English Football Association and the English Rugby Football Union -- and will range from including holiday camps for kids to qualification courses for future coaches .

Hughes will take on the role of academy director , and like O'Connor , he feels the scheme can help to push the boundaries of FootGolf even further .

`` The concept of FootGolf is something that really appeals to me and I 'm sure there is a massive amount of people that would really want to get involved with the Academy Scheme . The potential there is huge and it is something that I 'm really looking forward to , '' Hughes said .

`` I do n't think a lot of kids get the right sort of education when it comes to sport , I think they just want to kick the ball against a wall nowadays . They need direction and for somebody to really push them a little , to get them right up there and become the best they really can be . The scheme will give you that platform . ''

As well as furthering the profile of the sport , the Academy Scheme will be hoping to produce some of the FootGolfers of tomorrow .

A tour de force

The FIGC currently stages a European Tour , with each of its different 22 member nations holding their own tournament throughout the year .

Some of the world 's finest players go from competition to competition looking to accumulate points , before a European champion is eventually crowned at the final stage in Portugal in November .

`` Players travel from country to country because they love FootGolf and they love trying different courses , '' O'Connor said . `` There 's quite a small , but cult , following of people that do this . They all want to get ranked and be known as a good FootGolfer , not just in their own country but around the world . ''

There are also a number of domestic tournaments taking place each year on various courses across the globe .

The U.S. currently leads the way when it comes to different courses with 90 , while the UK , now boasting 30 , has made impressive progress to move up to second , given it had just two at the beginning of 2013 .

With FootGolf continuing to make huge strides both at home and abroad , O'Connor has high hopes for the sport and feels the sky is most certainly the limit .

`` In five years ' time , every country in the world that has got golf courses will be a member of the Federation for International FootGolf , '' O'Connor said . `` With the amount of inquiries we are getting from all over the place , I have no doubt about that .

`` We 've got somebody in Togo asking us about joining the FIFG . They 've only got one golf course in Togo , and they 're talking about putting FootGolf on it ! That 's how big an impact the sport is having around the world . ''

Read more : A golf club with more eagles than most

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FootGolf is played in a number of countries around the world

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The Federation for International FootGolf boasts 22 member nations

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UK FootGolf set to introduce its own UK FootGolf Academy Scheme